Britain and Australia Update Travel Advisories for Indonesia
Jakarta. The Australian and British governments updated their travel advisories for Indonesia on Tuesday over security concerns following the announcement of the results of 2019 presidential and legislative elections earlier in the day.
Britons were urged to avoid mass gatherings, due to the potential for civil unrest.
"The Indonesian authorities have stated that they expect there to be continued demonstrations in Central Jakarta following the announcement of the results and have put in place security personnel and some road closures," the British government said in its travel advisory.
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and his running mate Ma'ruf Amin won 55.5 percent of the vote in last month's presidential election. He made his victory speech in a slum area in Central Jakarta on Tuesday.
Presidential rival Prabowo Subianto and his running mate Sandiaga Uno, who received 45.5 percent of the vote, have refused to accept the official result announced by the General Elections Commission (KPU) early Tuesday. They have vowed to take their case to the Constitutional Court.
Hundreds of their supporters participated in a rally in front of the offices of the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) in Central Jakarta on Tuesday to protest the election result. The Prabowo camp claims that there are indications of "massive fraud" but has yet to provide compelling evidence.
"Demonstrations may also take place in other cities on the islands of Java and Sumatra. You should avoid all protests, demonstrations and political rallies as there's a risk of violence," the British government said.
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also renewed its travel advisory for Indonesia on Tuesday.
"Indonesian authorities have advised there is an increased risk of violence, including possible acts of terrorism, before and after the election result announcement. Approximately 46,000 security personnel will secure protest sites in Jakarta," the Australian government said.
Prabowo supporters plan to hold rallies in several parts of Jakarta, including outside the offices of the KPU and Bawaslu, on Wednesday.
Police have intercepted many protesters traveling to Jakarta.
Meanwhile, Detachment 88, the National Police's elite anti-terrorism unit, arrested two more suspected terrorists in Bekasi, West Java, and Ciracas, East Jakarta, on Monday.
This followed the arrest of terror suspect Endang, alias Abu Rafi, in Bogor, West Java, on Friday, National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo told the Jakarta Globe.
Police previously said more than 30 suspected terrorists have been arrested in a series of raids in several locations since early May. The suspects, who are members of Islamic State-affiliated Jamaah Ansharut Daulah, planned to detonate bombs among the crowd expected to gather outside the KPU offices on Wednesday.
"Avoid protests, demonstrations and rallies, as these can turn violet without warning. Exercise a high degree of caution in Indonesia overall, including Bali," the Australian government warned.
Several other countries, including the United States, issued travel warnings for Indonesia on Monday.
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